Is Austin Stowell Gay? Unpacking The Truth Behind The Actor's Private Life And NCIS: Origins Role

The curiosity surrounding Austin Stowell’s personal life, particularly his sexual orientation, has intensified significantly following his high-profile casting as the younger Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the new CBS prequel series, *NCIS: Origins*. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the American actor has been the subject of numerous searches concerning whether he is gay, a question that often arises when a celebrity maintains a highly private life outside of their professional career. This article dives into the latest confirmed details about the 39-year-old actor's relationship status, his past public dating history, and the facts that address the persistent speculation, providing the most current and verified information available. The core of the speculation—"Is Austin Stowell gay?"—is a question rooted in his deliberate privacy and a limited public dating history, not in any confirmed statement or report. The verifiable, most recent information from late 2024 confirms that the actor is currently single, a status he has publicly joked about while promoting his new television series, making it clear that his focus is entirely on his career.

Austin Stowell: A Complete Biography and Profile

Austin Miles Stowell is an accomplished American actor known for his compelling performances across film and television. His career spans a variety of critically acclaimed projects, from intense dramas to blockbuster hits.

• Full Name: Austin Miles Stowell
• Date of Birth: December 24, 1984
• Age (as of 2025): 40
• Place of Birth: Kensington, Connecticut, USA
• Nationality: American
• Education: B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Connecticut (UConn)
• Height: Approximately 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
• Current Role: Leroy Jethro Gibbs (younger version) in *NCIS: Origins* (2024–)
• Notable Filmography:
  • *Whiplash* (2014) as Ryan
  • *Bridge of Spies* (2015) as Francis Gary Powers
  • *Dolphin Tale* (2011) and *Dolphin Tale 2* (2014) as Kyle Connellan
  • *Battle of the Sexes* (2017) as Larry King
  • *12 Strong* (2018) as Staff Sergeant Fred Falls
  • *Swallow* (2019) as Hunter
  • *Fantasy Island* (2020) as Patrick Sullivan
  • *The Hating Game* (2021) as Joshua Templeman

The Latest on Austin Stowell's Relationship Status in 2025

The question of Austin Stowell's relationship status is the primary driver behind the "gay" speculation. For a prominent actor in a major network show like *NCIS: Origins*, a lack of a public partner often leads to intense fan theorizing.

Confirmed: Stowell Is Currently Single

In a series of interviews conducted in late 2024 to promote *NCIS: Origins*, Austin Stowell was directly asked about his current dating life. He consistently confirmed that he is single. The actor has not been seen publicly dating anyone in a confirmed capacity since a relationship that ended nearly a decade ago. He even addressed the intense focus on his love life with a humorous clarification. In an interview, he stated that while he is unattached, he is "in a relationship with a TV show". This playful deflection, while meant to highlight his dedication to playing the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, only served to emphasize his single status to the public.

Past Public Relationships: The Nina Dobrev Connection

While Austin Stowell maintains a very private life now, his most notable and public relationship was with actress Nina Dobrev. * Relationship Timeline: Stowell and Dobrev began dating in mid-2015 and were a prominent Hollywood couple for a period. * Separation: The pair officially split in February 2016, with sources citing busy schedules as the reason for the breakup. Since the end of his relationship with the *Vampire Diaries* star, Stowell has successfully kept his romantic life out of the media spotlight. This lengthy period without a public girlfriend is likely the main catalyst for the persistent online searches and rumors about his sexual orientation.

Addressing the "Austin Stowell Gay" Rumors and Speculation

The persistent online query about Austin Stowell being gay is a classic example of how celebrity privacy and a lack of public dating can generate intense fan speculation.

No Confirmed Information or Statement

It is crucial to note that there is no credible evidence, public statement, or confirmed report from Austin Stowell or his representatives that indicates he is gay. The actor has never publicly addressed the rumors directly, choosing instead to focus on his work and maintain his privacy. The rumors appear to stem from a few key factors: 1. Private Life: His deliberate choice to keep his personal life, including his dating history, extremely private since 2016. In Hollywood, a lack of a confirmed heterosexual relationship often leads to speculation about a star's sexuality. 2. Dedication to Career: His intense focus on his acting career, particularly his commitment to the demanding role of young Gibbs in *NCIS: Origins*, suggests his professional life is his current priority. 3. Past Roles: While not a direct cause, actors who play complex or highly masculine roles, such as Francis Gary Powers in Steven Spielberg's *Bridge of Spies* or the titular character in *NCIS: Origins*, sometimes face increased scrutiny regarding their real-life identity in contrast to their on-screen persona.

The NCIS: Origins Effect

The premiere of *NCIS: Origins* in late 2024 has brought a massive new audience to Austin Stowell, many of whom are now researching the actor for the first time. The show, which explores the early career of the iconic Mark Harmon character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, has put Stowell under a new level of media magnification. His co-stars, including Kyle Schmid, Mariel Molino, Tyla Abercrumbie, and Diany Rodriguez, have also seen a spike in searches related to their personal lives. Stowell’s portrayal of the young, stoic, and dedicated Gibbs has been praised, but the attention on his professional life has inevitably spilled over into his personal life, reigniting the old questions about his relationship status and sexuality.

Topical Authority: Austin Stowell's Major Roles and Co-Stars

To understand Austin Stowell’s professional trajectory, it is necessary to examine the diverse roles that have established his topical authority in Hollywood. His ability to convincingly play a range of characters—from a military pilot to a romantic lead—further complicates any attempt to define his personal life based on his on-screen image.

Francis Gary Powers in *Bridge of Spies*

One of Stowell's breakthrough roles was playing Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 spy plane pilot captured by the Soviet Union, in the 2015 Cold War thriller *Bridge of Spies*. Working alongside cinematic legends like director Steven Spielberg and actor Tom Hanks cemented his status as a serious dramatic actor.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs in *NCIS: Origins*

His latest and most significant role is taking on the mantle of young Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a character originally played by Mark Harmon for two decades on the flagship series *NCIS*. The prequel explores Gibbs's early days as a newly minted Special Agent in 1991, offering a deep dive into the character's formative years and personal tragedy. This demanding role requires a profound commitment, which Stowell has stated is his current focus, jokingly referring to it as his main "relationship". In conclusion, while the search query "Is Austin Stowell gay?" is popular, the most current and verified information from 2025 confirms that the actor is single and intensely focused on his career, particularly his role as young Gibbs in *NCIS: Origins*. There is no factual basis or confirmed report to support the speculation regarding his sexual orientation.